A Short History of the Future: Surviving the 2030 Spike

by Colin Mason

Has the future a future? Are we bringing history to an end? Observing any one of several individual but critical trends suggests that, without rapid and positive action, history may have only a very short way to run. Whether it is the growth of world population, of greenhouse gas concentrations and the accelerating rate of climate change, the running down of oil and natural gas reserves, growing shortages of fresh water for agriculture, industry and domestic use, or the increasing difficulty in controlling epidemic diseases � we are facing a mounting global crisis that will peak in less than a generation, around the year 2030. Taken together, these trends point to a potentially apocalyptic period, if not for the planet itself then certainly for human societies and for humankind. In this compelling book, and update to The 2030 Spike, Colin Mason explains in clear and irrefutable terms what is going on � largely below the surface of our daily or weekly news bulletins. The picture he paints is stark, and yet it is not bleak. Being forewarned, we are forearmed, and he draws on his own extensive political experience to describe how much we can do as individuals, and above all collectively, not merely to avert crisis but to engineer thoroughgoing change that can usher in genuinely sustainable and valuable alternatives to the way we live now.

Genres: Nonfiction

316 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a potentially a really depressing book. Bearing in mind that he is delivering an optimistic scenario.

It is a must read for doom-mongers.

He does suggest ways of correcting our current trajectory. It covers oil, food security etc. There is a bit on each chapter about reversing the change. They are not entirely unfeasible actions.

[Wayne Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colin Mason was an Australian (NSW) Senator and was always a statesman with an excellent mind. The amount of research that he has carried out to write this book is amazing and it should be read by everyone who has an interest in where this world is heading (all Parents?, all GrandParents?).

Colin looks at the serious issues facing this world and mankind and how they are lining up to spike together in the 2030 decade. It could be a very depressing book ...except for the suggestions that are made to overcome these issues and to create a brighter future. We could have a beautiful vision for our children's future or we could just close our eyes and await the calamity that will result from inaction.

The depressing part is outside of the book - the reality is that few people will take the time / effort to read it and most of our business leaders and most of our politicians (all around the world) are too self-centred, too greedy and too ignorant to take an interest. Lack of vision abounds in reality.

Colin Mason's vision, by contrast, is boundless.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. PLEASE read it and talk about it.

[Nigel Street]

Full of depressing statistics about everything that is wrong with the world; from lack of clean water in the developing world to lack of oil in the developed world. Add the number of people suffering from malaria or other unpleasant diseases to those being exploited for trade, war or sex and they make you realise that there is a lot that is wrong with a world who spends so much on war and or preparing for it. While there are some interesting points made along with insightful analysis the overall thrust is niave at best. Creating a utopian world order is no more possible now or any other time in the future be that 2030 or beyond and this detracts significantly from what could have been a well researched and interesting insight into the challenges the world faces and needs to address.